Detoxing Your Lungs After Smoking: Foods, Exercises, and Treatments that Help

Smoking contributes to roughly 90% of lung cancer deaths and around 80% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths. These numbers are enough to indicate how destructive the smoking habit is and the long-term impacts it has on the lungs.

Even after you quit smoking, it takes the lungs years to recover to their original potential. Even then, their functions aren’t as optimal as they would be in a pair of healthy lungs. Adding certain foods, exercises, and treatments to your life can significantly aid in lung detoxification, further improving their function.

This comprehensive guide will take a closer look into different methods to support lung detoxification and enhance respiratory health.

How Does Smoking Affect the Lungs?

Cigarettes are developed with numerous different chemicals, roughly 7000+ to be exact. These chemicals, including tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens, build up in the lung tissues over time, leading to inflammation and damage.

Over time, with the lack of any interventions, the smoking habit takes a toll on one’s respiratory health, leading to common complications like chronic respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

One of the most common parts of the lung affected by smoking is the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs. With their damage, the oxygen exchange in the lungs is also affected quite significantly.

This is why quitting smoking is a necessity, especially with effective supportive therapy techniques like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Ryze, with an extensive range of Nicotine Gum, has helped thousands quit their smoking habit effectively.

What are Some Foods that Detoxify the Lungs?

Our lung health is directly proportional to the food we feed it. For example, a diet enriched with nutrients and antioxidants supports lung health much more than a diet rich in unhealthy fats and processed food.

Certain foods not only support lung healing but also remove toxins and manage inflammation, which is one of the key markers contributing to the risk of lung disease.

Following are a few foods to add to your diet:

Green Leafy Vegetables

Spinach, kale, and arugula are some of the most popular leafy greens. They are packed with antioxidants that cleanse the food and support detoxification. So, if you are on your journey to fix your lung health, adding these vegetables to your diet in salads and smoothies can be useful.

Citrus Fruits

If you are wondering how to detox your lungs from smoking, it's vital to combat it with antioxidants. Some of the best options that can help with that are citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, grapefruit, etc. They are packed with Vitamin C, which repairs the lung tissue and also boosts immune function.

Ginger and Turmeric

Since smoking causes elevated inflammation in the body, the combination of ginger and turmeric has a profound impact on reversing that damage significantly. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in both ginger and turmeric help reduce inflammation in the respiratory system and clear out mucus buildup.

Garlic

With its immunomodulatory, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, garlic is one of the best ways to reduce lung inflammation. You can eat it raw or include it in your diet to improve your lung function.

What are the Exercises for Lung Detoxification?

After years of smoking, exercises can be an answer to “How to detox lungs for smokers.” The majority of breathing and aerobic exercises have direct impacts on the lungs, helping improve lung capacity, oxygen efficiency, and respiratory strength.

Some of the exercises you can consider doing are:

Deep Breathing Exercises - Deep breathing exercises, like diaphragmatic breathing, help improve lung capacity and clear toxins from the lungs.

Pursed-Lip Breathing - Pursed-lip breathing benefits people with obstructed airways, as it helps slow the breathing rate and reduce shortness of breath.

Cardiovascular Exercise - Exercises like walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling increase heart rate, which helps the lungs work harder and improves lung capacity.

Yoga and Pranayama—Yoga poses like Cobra Pose and Camel Pose open the chest and improve lung capacity, while Pranayama techniques focus on breath control and lung cleansing.

Aerobic Conditioning - Aerobic exercises improve overall oxygen efficiency and lung function, helping to clear the lungs of residual toxins.

With exercises, you can’t expect to go full out on your first try, especially with depleted lung capacity and function after years of smoking. This is why it is necessary that you start slow and gradually increase your intensity with the passing days.

What are Some Treatments for Lung Detoxification?

In addition to diet and exercise, certain supportive therapies and treatments work wonders for your lungs, primarily helping boost their function and capacity over time.

Following are a few treatment options worth considering:

Steam Therapy

Steam therapy, or steam inhalation, helps loosen mucus in the lungs, making it easier to expel. It also helps relieve symptoms of congestion and shortness of breath. However, it is important to avoid doing this with extremely boiling water, as the steam can be too harsh and further damage the lung tissue.

Salt Therapy

Although somewhat less talked about, salt therapy or Halotherapy involves inhaling salt particles, which can help break down mucus, reduce inflammation, and improve respiratory function. Indulging in regular sessions can help improve lung function in no time.

Chest Percussion and Postural Drainage

Chest percussion, combined with postural drainage, is a technique used to clear mucus from the lungs. It is beneficial for former smokers with chronic mucus buildup. Since it is a professional treatment, you have to get it done by a physiotherapist or respiratory therapist for maximum impact.

Supplements and Herbal Remedies

Certain herbal supplements, like mullein, peppermint, and thyme, contain natural compounds that can support respiratory health by soothing inflammation and reducing mucus. However, you must consult your doctor before opting for any supplement.

Creating a Lung-Friendly Environment!

Smoking has one of the worst impacts on your lungs, significantly impairing their function and performance. However, if you are ready to quit your smoking habit and make healthier switches to detoxify the lungs, Ryze’s 21-day Challenge is the perfect way to kickstart your journey. It is time to start taking accountability and making these positive changes to support lung recovery, breathe easier, and enjoy a healthier future.